Significant French Operas
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Gwendoline
Opera in 2 [3] acts
Music by Emmanuel Chabrier
Libretto by Catulle Mendès
First Performance: Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels, April 10, 1886
Cast:
Background
Synopsis
Act
I. Harald, king of the Vikings, has made war upon the Saxons under Armel
whom he has conquered and condemned to execution. But the victor sees
Armel's fair daughter, Gwendoline, the first woman he has ever beheld,
and to him, matchless. Instantly his savage nature undergoes a radical
change. He feels a deep and pure affection for Gwendoline and asks her
to wed him.. With her father's consent Gwendoline accepts Harald as her
future husband. But Armel secretly gives instructions to his men to
slaughter the Danes at the marriage feast when they will be disabled by
drink.
Act II. This transpires in the bridal chamber, whither Armel has
followed the bride. He hands her a sharp dagger, exacting a promise that
she will slay the sleeping Harald, as the foe of her people. She refuses
to comply, and at the cry of the Danes she gives the weapon to her
husband and remains by his side. But in the last scene, at sea, the
Saxons kill all the Danes and Harald falls by the hand of Armel.
Gwendoline stabs herself over his corpse.
Libretto
Links
Last updated: January 22, 2008